Your love for me was like the wind
You filled me and intoxicated me with every breath.
But you were a passing hale
Leaving me out of breath and empty.

My love for you was like the waves of the ocean
When I found you, I decided I would never leave
And so my love continues to lap against your coast
Even though you are now abandoned

April 24, 2015

"Hey, stranger!" I call out to Chloe who's awaiting me in our regular Latte Lilypad booth.

"Hey, lovebird," Chloe answers with a knowing grin. "You look happy."

"I am," I grin. "How's life? No more hot barista boy?"

Chloe laughs and shakes her head. "Nah. I'm doing my own thing. Besides, I graduate in a month."

"Holy crap, that's right! I forgot how old you are," I jibe.

"Hey, you're done this semester too, right?" Chloe asks with a dimpled smile.

A cloud seems to gather over me. After this semester, I'm moving home for my internship in the fall and taking a summer class. My time here is almost over.

"Yep," I finally answer with a sigh.

"I take it you and Josh haven't discussed that yet?" Chloe asks, eyebrows furrowing compassionately.

"You nailed it. But enough about me. What's up? Why did you want to meet?" I say, quickly changing the subject.

"So," Chloe says, her eyes sparking. "Take a look at this."

She reaches into her bag and hands me a paper.

"Dear Ms. Cassidy," I read aloud. "We have received your application at the Albany Times Union, and we are pleased to offer you a position as a staff writer at our newspaper." I pause and look up at her. "Staff writer? Freaking staff writer?"

Chloe squeals, "Yes! I interned with them last summer, and they're taking me on full time!"

"Holy crap, Chlo, that's awesome!" I answer. "So you're moving to Albany?"

"Yep," she answers with a shrug. "I don't really have anything keeping me here, and this job is an amazing opportunity."

"Have you accepted it yet?" I ask, glancing over the rest of the letter.

"Yep," she answers. "It only took me half a second to decide."

I reach across the table and squeeze Chloe's hand. "I'm so proud of you, Chloe. You rock."

"Buuut," she says, grinning at me. "I didn't just ask you to meet me here to tell you the good news. I have a proposition for you."

I wiggle my eyebrows at her. "Chloe, I'm flattered, truly, but I'm seeing someone else right now."

She slaps my arm with a laugh. "Oh, shut up. Listen, Rach. The Times Union offers a few competitive internships every year, and I know they're looking for someone with your kind of experience. I already mentioned you to my boss, and I'm pretty she'd be willing to hire you if you submit some of your work."

My jaw draws open. I've applied to a few internships and haven't heard anything, so this offer is almost too good to pass up. I want to take it, and if I were making decisions for only myself, I would, but there's Gramps to think about. Albany is four or so hours from home, and if he's still alive in the fall, I won't want to be that far from him.

"Chloe, I...I don't know what to say," I answer, my voice noticeably void of enthusiasm.

"I thought this would be a good thing," Chloe says, face downcast.

"No, no, it is." I give her a sad smile. "I'm really grateful, I just...I don't know if I can."

Chloe frowns. "If you're turning down an incredible job offer for Josh, you're insane."

"No, no, it's not Josh." I sigh. "It's...it's Gramps. I don't know if I can be that far away from home when he's so sick."

Chloe's face melts in concern. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Rach. I didn't think of that. This is just a really good opportunity, and I'd hate for you to pass it up. Don't decide today; think about it for a few weeks and get back to me."

April 1, 2015

"So what are we doing?" I ask Josh eagerly as we walk towards his truck.

"It's a surprise," he answers with a laugh.

Since it's our two month anniversary, he's promised to take me somewhere special tonight, but he won't tell me where we're going. He picked me up at three in the afternoon, so I can't think we're going to dinner yet. It doesn't matter what we do; by the mischief in his eyes, I know that we'll have fun.

"I hate surprises," I whine, wrapping my hand around his upper arm and tugging on it. "Just tell me."

"You're a pain in the butt when you don't get what you want," he answers with an eyeroll, opening the passenger door for me.

I climb in, tucking the skirt of my purple lace dress under me as I sit. Josh climbs in next to me, but instead of starting the engine, he just looks at me.

"What are you looking at?" I ask, cocking my head to one side.

"You look really beautiful," he answers, his voice soft and earnest.

My face reddens, and I reach across the center console and grab his tie, pulling him in for a quick kiss. His hand briefly slips around my waist and then returns to the steering wheel, and we drive away. Every time he touches me, I feel like I'm set on fire, but it's the sort of fire that doesn't threaten to incinerate me, it only makes me shine more brightly.

We drive for a while, eventually hitting a dirt road. "Josh? Where are we going? If you take me to a haunted house, I swear I will kill you. After I pee myself."

Josh laughs. "It's not a haunted house, I promise. Just trust me."

I lean against the car door, scanning the empty fields around us for some sign of where we're going. Finally, I spot an old Victorian style house at the end of the road. Josh parks in front of it and helps me out of the truck. The house is painted dark gold and green and has a preternatural agelessness to it. It has multiple balconies and staggered roofs with beautiful carved designs tracing the top of the front porch. 

"What is it?" I whisper reverently.

"This," he answers with a proud smile, "is The Bottomless Inkwell. In the 1800s it was a library, but it fell out of use during World War II. Twenty years ago or so, someone bought the place and fixed it up, and now it's a bookstore. Not many people know about it, but they're renowned for having really old editions of classic books. I thought you would like it."

I turn breathlessly to Josh. "Yes...yes, this is...it's...Josh, it's perfect. I don't know what to say!"

He laughs. "I don't think I've ever seen you speechless before. Ready to take a look?"

"Do we have time?" I ask eagerly.

"I reserved our dinner for 7:00 P.M. I knew you might want to stay and look a while."

I turn to Josh and wrap him in a hug, standing on my tiptoes to reach around his neck.

"This is perfect," I whisper softly in his ear. "Thank you."

I let go of Josh and grab his hand, running towards the library-turned-bookstore as fast as I can in heeled ankle boots. The door is already propped open, and as we walk inside, the familiar scent of old books greets our noses. The bookstore feels like a library, the quiet settling over us like a familiar blanket. A few employees linger silently around us, one lady smiling but saying nothing. Books are everywhere. There are shelves built into the walls, shelves stretching to the ceiling; there are even shelves built under the staircase that leads to the open second floor where I can only see more books. Ladders are attached to metal rails on the taller shelves, allowing you to climb up and examine whichever book you'd like.

I wander through the room, oblivious to anything except the sweet scent and sight of books. I manage to find a huge collection of ancient Jane Austen novels. My fingers gently scan the faded covers. Persuasion. Emma. Northanger Abbey.  I amble down another aisle, finding Charles Dickens and Homer and Louisa May Alcott and Edgar Allen Poe. 

I turn around eventually, finding Josh leaning against a bookshelf and watching me.

"Thank you, Josh," I whisper breathlessly. "This is...this is incredible. I could stay here forever. I'm sorry I'm making you stand and watch me look at books."

Josh grins. "Totally worth it to see that look on your face."

I step towards him, sliding my hands from his chest to his shoulders. "Thank you," I whisper, a breath away from his lips.

Josh leans down and kisses me so fiercely that I stumble backwards against one of the bookshelves. I completely forget about the books and kiss him back furiously.

~~~~~

Okay, I'll be honest. This chapter was pretty much a chance for me to imagine the most ideal date ever. I really wish this place were real. But seriously, aren't they so adorable together?

Shoutout to the faithful few who have read this far! I promise the end is in sight. Any thoughts on what might be to come?

~ Hannah